Daniel Pinchbeck's latest book 2012: The Return of Quetzalcoatl is one that I have been looking forward to for some time. His first book, Breaking Open the Head, ranks as one of the best that I've read over the past decade - in both style and substance. In it, Pinchbeck described his own journey from city-slicker cynic to shamanic convert, in the most exquisite prose that one could imagine. In fact, in my review of that book I felt he had reached the rare heights achieved by few writers - those of the calibre of Aldous Huxley - capable of describing the seemingly ineffable.

A few years on and Pinchbeck returns with the continuation of his personal journey, though one that seems to go slightly astray as it progresses. He begins the book by introducing his major theme, that of an apocalyptic end to our current paradigm and consciousness, as the end of the current cycle of the Mayan calendar approaches (in, of course, 2012).

The hypothesis I propose is that the completion of the great cycle and the return of Quetzalcoatl are archetypes and their underlying meaning points toward a shift in the nature of the psyche...such a radical proposition may seem absurdly far-fetched and beyond rational analysis...however, it is my view that this transition can be approached sensibly, considered in a way that does not insult our reasoning faculties.

2012 is a book embedded within the current eschatological climate of terrorism, Iraq, peak oil and global warming gone mad. Pinchbeck's observations on these topics range from the bland - for example, the usual 'sermonizing' about global warming, with little reference to the underlying debates - to the extremely insightful such as his discussion of Nietzsche’s ideas of "will to ignorance" and "will to superficiality", which perhaps provide no better description of the bizarre current global mood of ambivalence and apathy, as world leaders wage wars based on obvious lies.

The first few chapters live up to Pinchbeck's promise of not insulting our reasoning faculties, as he provides an excellent overview of the latest new paradigm thought, including Dean Radin's parapsychology research and the weird implications that the quantum world has for our view of 'reality'. Pinchbeck takes fundamentalist religion and secular liberalism to task for their lack of spirituality, and urges the reader to embrace a new spirituality in the face of these latest findings. Like Terence McKenna, he seeks an archaic revival of sorts:

It is my thesis that the rapid development of technology and the destruction of the biosphere are material by-products of a psycho-spiritual process taking place on a planetary scale. We have created this crisis to force our own accelerated transformation - on an unconscious level, we have willed it into being.

Pinchbeck then moves on to contemplating another worthwhile book, Patrick Harpur's Daimonic Reality, and its implications. At this point we reach a stumbling block, as crop circles are introduced for the first time in the book - though certainly not for the last time. Despite warnings from a well-educated friend of his (Mark Pilkington, of Strange Attractor) regarding the human provenance of these glyphs, Pinchbeck spends quite a bit of time discussing them as signs of the coming change in consciousness. His naivety seems overwhelming on this subject, as he tells of the stunning "Oliver's Castle" video showing orbs creating a crop circle - which as far as I'm aware, was proved a hoax by John Wabe more than five years ago (if not as far back as 1997).

Where Pinchbeck got it wrong with crop circles however, he must be praised for sections discussing the philosophies of Herbert Marcuse - on the failure of industrialization and our indoctrination into what is an irrational system - and most especially Jean Gebser's idea that humanity passes through different consciousness structures, each with "a profoundly different realization of time and space" and that new forms of consciousness arise as sudden mutations. The discussion of Gebser's thoughts in terms of the industrial revolution ( "What led to the invention of the machine? The breaking forth of time?") and how our modern mindset is to the constant acceleration of production and efficiency, certainly resonated with me as a major fault of our current 'consciousness'. Indeed, the ideas of Marcuse and Gebser are the fulcrum on which Pinchbeck levers his argument:

If we were to conclude, after careful consideration, that our modern world is based upon fundamentally flawed conceptions of time and mind, that on these fatal defects we had erected a flawed civilisation - like building a tower on an unsound foundation, that becomes increasingly wobbly as it rises - then logic might indicate the necessity, as well as the inevitability, of change. By closing the gap between science and myth, rationality and intuition, technology and technique, we might also understand the form that change would take. Such a shift would not be the "end of the world," but the end of a world, and the opening of the next.

As can be imagined, there are also chapters which cover the shamanic hallucinogens, from iboga to ayahuasca and DMT. Also, as would be expected, Pinchbeck ties in McKenna's Timewave Zero and the date of 2012, to the other confluences of prophetic thinking which point at this date - from the Mayan calendar to the research of John Major Jenkins. In fact, the sheer amount of topics covered at times leaves the impression of superficiality...a myriad of topics could well have been debated in far more depth, from channeling, to the crop circle phenomenon, technological singularity etc, if the book was focused on a smaller amount of topics. Personally though, I'm glad that 2012 is so sweeping in its scope, as it tries to bring all manner of fascinating topics under one roof.

Where Pinchbeck's book falls down - at least from his original argument of not insult the reasoning mind - is the downward spiral in the later chapters in which the author begins wondering whether he has been 'chosen' as one to bring this new consciousness into being. Pinchbeck quotes Edward Edinger: "The archetypes themselves cannot evolve into full consciousness without being routed through a mortal ego to bring that consciousness into realization." By this time in the book - especially upon his return to the Burning Man festival - Pinchbeck is the epitome of a psychedelic burnout, going many days without sleep or sustenance, and begins believing that he may be one of these 'routers'. He receives 'transmissions' from an entity describing itself as Quetzalcoatl, heralding a new dawn of consciousness. At this point unfortunately, my 'reasoning mind' was beginning to feel a little insulted (I think any self-respecting deity would realise, by this point, that channeling prophetic material would just add to the past few decades of similar static which the New Age scene is full of).

In his favour, Pinchbeck is capable of self-analysis, and mentions a number of times the fallibility of apocalyptic fervour (seen throughout history, not just in our times), as well as the 'messianic complex' which so often accompanies psychic burnout - he praises McKenna for being able to approach this very subject with humour. He also considers the option "that I was sliding down a slippery slope toward an unusual form of madness," and notes that apocalyptic prophesy is "a classic symptom of megalomaniac ego-inflation." However, in the end, his internal rage against the current world, combined with what could be his own psychological need for importance, seems to overwhelm these warnings, as he grasps for something that will 'make things right'.

Throughout the book, Pinchbeck struggles with his own personal demons - misogyny, his lack of family interaction (like his father), and feelings that he should be destined for greater things. Perhaps a first step should be for him to realise that these are feelings which I'm sure a large number of men his age all undergo, and they are not peculiar to him as some sort of cruel destiny. Instead, there is a certain fatalism to Pinchbeck's lamenting of his own shortcomings, that these are 'in-built' and something he should not be fighting (for example, he decides that he will no longer be bound by the 'rules' of monogamist relationships). And yet his whole quest is about humanity changing from its 'inbuilt' destructive habits. He rails against humanity, but ignores the self. Rather than exerting discipline, he feels persecuted by humanity for the idea of monogamy and decides to make his own rules. He hurts his partner, but thinks he is the persecuted one (a microcosm of humanity and the globe?) How does he expect humanity to change if he can't change himself? On one hand he denies responsibility on a personal level, but on the other wants humanity to do so. In his favour, he does confront the question at times, acknowledging the "difficult task of reconciling freedom with responsibility." However, the impatient reader might simply feel like suggesting that he get over himself.

The author has certainly been influenced by a number of 'psychic' events which have smashed his previous physicalist worldview. One incident in particular, where his partner seems to be caught up in a dream he is having, is quite unsettling. Thus, we can understand his openness to other 'psychic' events such as the channeling of a prophetic entity. However, perhaps Pinchbeck should heed the warnings of Terence McKenna, and occultists such as Dion Fortune and Aleister Crowley, to be extremely skeptical of the claims of any particular 'intelligence' or entity that makes itself known. At one point in 2012, he relates his unease at a talk by Dolores Cannon, in which he felt that entities were "testing the lulled awareness of the listeners, looking for entry points, seeking to fasten onto their psyche, like mind parasites." Perhaps he should apply this wariness to his own 'communications', considering the fragile psychological state he seemed to be in by the latter stages of the book.

In using 2012 as his date of humanity's metamorphosis, perhaps it also would have been worthwhile to investigate in more detail the claims of those who have already heralded this date. The New Age bookshelf is riddled with vapid books of little research and substance, and I was certainly suspicious of identities mentioned by Pinchbeck, such as Jose Arguelles. At least Pinchbeck also raises his own concerns throughout the book, rather than blindly proselytising on behalf of these theories. One thing there is no doubt about is Pinchbeck's ability to write - every page is a delight to read, and some of his turns of phrase are sublime. Readers of 2012 may at times see similarities in style and substance to Hancock's narrative in Fingerprints of the Gods (which he does mention in the book) - "As I circled the massive blocks, it seemed to me that Stonehenge was constructed so that the knowledge encoded in the site would survive to the present day." His constant questioning throughout the book, indicates how personal this journey is.

In some ways, Pinchbeck's journey thus far reflects the hippie movement of the 1960s. The first embrace of psychedelics and other modes of thought, followed by a downward spiral into self-aggrandizement and denial of responsibility. Some may even see in this a parable about the dangers of psychedelic and occult thought. However, though the later chapters were not the ideal finish to 2012 that I would have expected, the majority of this book is a worthwhile read not only for the subjects it covers, but for the way it is intelligently discussed and written.

In fact, a quote by Pinchbeck's hero Walter Benjamin, lamenting the loss of storytelling, sums up what there is to like about this book:

Less and less frequently do we encounter people with the ability to tell a tale properly...it is as if the something that seemed inalienable to us, the securest among our possessions, were taken from us: the ability to exchange experiences. Experience has fallen in value. And it looks as if it is continuing to fall into bottomlessness.

At its heart, it is a sentiment which sums up this book - Pinchbeck is relating his experience to us, and no matter what we think of that experience, we should certainly appreciate him sharing it with us - not to mention the elegant prose it is written in. This is where the crop circle sections, which grated against me personally - may be seen as worthwhile, as it is the recollection of his own journey...not a necessary, objective truth. As crop circle research Michael Glickman says at one point in 2012: "In a post-Newtonian culture, it is very difficult to put forth a conviction in something that you can't actually prove."

In the end we must remember that it is the message that is important, the messenger is just a vessel. I am glad to hear Daniel continues to share his personal insights as well as his struggles with us because it shows us that he is just as human as the rest of us regardless of his advanced line of thinking and philosophies, and that he is subject to the same craziness that affects us all in this world. I would rather have him share with us that line of thinking than say, him proclaiming himself as a true god-incarnate on Earth or something like that. I am sad to hear however he went the path he did with the Olivers Castle video but do look forward to hear more of what he says about the crop circle phenomenon as well as the other subject matter he covers.

Stan Hall
As an admirer of Velikovsky's catastrophism I see the serpent-bird Quetzalcoatl as the comet-planet Venus and have no doubt cataclysms similar to those allegedly prophesied for 2012 anciently devasted the Maya, Egyptians and, as amply recorded, civilizations globally. If I am correct, the only planet we have to worry about is clearly identified, now settled in its solar orbit - and showing no sign of more tantrums!
The current scaremongering is irresponsible hokum!

This review made me join this board! I doubt I'll read this book, (I think I'll opt for American Fascists instead), but the review is extremely intelligent and balanced. I have well-established (if a little overgrown) psychedelic pathways, but I'm not looking for any synthetic, filigreed New Age tomfoolery that detracts from true intellectual clarity. I'll definitely check out more stuff on this site- Jahful

It is interesting to find the “will to superficiality” staunchly defended in posts here at TDG – a site whose explicit meme is the “will to truth”.

I find the salient page in “2012” to be the dedication page. In “For my daughter” we see layers of meaning, from Pinchbeck’s hope that his daughter will fulfill the "extravagant thought experiment" he placed on the table, to his hope in each of us (his noosphere daughters/sons in the big-picture perspective) that we will participate in this short (5-year) experiment with an open mind because so much is at stake. His idea, while not new (ref Rupert Sheldrake and his morphogenetic fields theories, Larry Dossey's description of "nonlocal" states of consciousness, etc.), is that by acting as if we do in fact live in a participatory universe, we have an inherent responsibility to put forth the ideas (thoughts/intentions) we want to see come to fruition – while at the same time not thinking about the things we don’t want to happen (which he has no choice but to detail in “2012”). In a literary and readable way, Pinchbeck presents workable means by which to win the “roulette gamble” of a shift in the nature of the psyche that will lead to “a harmonic, perhaps even utopian, situation on the Earth.”

One humorous observation I take from the book is that in his repeated references to his parents being from the “Beat” generation, between the lines he indicts that same generation for missing the beat. That generation would be more aptly named “Skipped-a-Beat” generation they were so asynchronal. Precursors of the “Me Generation”, they moved to their own asynchronal beat (e.g., not wanting to have children, yet when parenthood happened, abdicating parenthood for selfhood), rather than look for the synchronicities that Pinchbeck has come to realize are integral to our intuitional growth.

Not intending to malign that generation, they served a purpose in marking time by producing offspring like Daniel, who is an artful representation of the merger of asynchronicities. “To continue the riff, in imaginative forays one can sense some Quetzalcoatlian essence among ink stained instigators, plotting revolution in the back rooms of Parisian cafes in the last days of the ancien régime; one hears in the odd syllables an atonal strain of sexual anarchism. . .” – you have to be an artist to write like that!

Pinchbeck summarizes: “I believe that we are either going to slide into chaos, or institute a new planetary culture based on compassion and rational use of resources. The second option requires a quantum leap in consciousness—but, as I argued in 2012, our entire history has prepared us for that leap, when we view it from a certain perspective.”

The Sphinx and three pyramids are markers of time of new αώ (alpha-omega) cycle that will be finished after few centuries in 2,400 ± 50. This is a message sent by ancient civilization to us about finished old αώ (alpha-omega) cycle. Ancient anniversary Zep-Tepi had been sacred to new αώ (alpha-omega) cycle and was the proof about the beginning of the new αώ (alpha-omega) epoch.
We have a greatest epoch of the prohibited History. Lots of artifacts of the pre-flood history are forbidden by false "fathers" of the mainstreams. 30,000 Atlantian or Olmecian artifacts found by Scottish Mineralogist and Archeologist William Niven are hidden in the museums of New York and Mexico. Lots of so called "researches" are written for the money, not for the Truth. They could rise lots of money for the falsification of the our real history. "Fathers" of the falsifications led by Dr. Zahi Hawass and Dr . Mark Lehner have the ostrich position against the modern discoveries made by many investigators. These video clips in the link are taken from the interesting investigations and closely connected to the much more sensational discovery that the Atlantis City. If you know Geology can understand everything!http://www.cosmogeology.ge/chapter-25.htm

The Giza complex is sacred to the global geo-catastrophe that started on 21 October 12,475 (10,465 B.C.) years ago. Sphinx indicates epoch of the event, i.e. Leo's epoch. Three stars of the Orion's belt indicate the three Giza pyramids at the event boundary and causeway from the middle pyramid to the sphinx indicates sunrise, i.e. 21-22, 23 October during the event. Of 21 October to 23 October continued EB geo-transfer and terrible earthquakes that formed last global deluge all over the Earth. Under the crust situates huge Magma Ocean. Approximately deepness of the fiery Magma Ocean is measured ~400km. Mantle plumes discovered by many geologists are the proofs about powerful liquid waves within the Magma Ocean. The waves are formed by penetration or rapid movement of the fiery liquid masses from the outer nucleus into the Magma Ocean (Asthenosphere). Reversal and recovery of the global Magnetic field, powerful wave deformation of the crust, runaway subductions and kilometers high tsunamis and partially or global extinctions are the side effects only.

The Giza project began by survived Atlantians after 10,465 B.C. and finished approximately in 10,400 B.C. Of course the project had been sacred to last global deluge. Thus minimal age of the Sphinx and three pyramids is that - 10.400+2010=12.410 years. It has no alternative. Whole Elite of the modern Geology want to say to egyptologist that the Sphinx has the much older age but the egyptologists have the ostrich position ??????

http://www.cosmogeology.ge/chapter-(31).pdf

http://www.cosmogeology.ge/chapter-(32).pdf

http://www.cosmogeology.ge/chapter-(33).pdf

Thus the megalithic complex of the Giza sacred to last global deluge in 10,465B.C. To explain each periodical global deluge we have the additional proofs as well. There are discovered shift and reversal of the magnetic poles by many scientists. Scientific falsifications are interrelated to the wrong authorities and they have the ostrich position against my discoveries but the reversal events have been discovered by best scientists, best intellectuals of the world. Each reversal event has an interesting and only explanation. These events are the proofs about powerful liquid waves within outer nucleus. Only one force of the universe can do it. This is an amazing geological force EB geo-transfer. It causes penetration or rapid movement the outer nucleus masses under the crust and mantle plumes, powerful liquid waves within Magma Ocean, deformation all over the crust, kilometers high tsunamis and shifting all lithosphere platforms over the 1000-1500km. Shift of the geographical poles are discovered by many scientists as well. shift of all lithosphere platforms over the 1000-1500km means drifting of the continents for few days over the 1000-1500km. Only one force of the universe can do something like this - powerful liquid waves under the crust, within Magma Ocean.

Thus future of the modern geology is that Gradualism + catastrophic plate tectonics [periodical global deluges all over the earth]. It means that every 7,000-13,000 years runaway subduction and drifting of the continents for few days over the 1000-1500km.

Sensational news for the mankind and the Deadlines for the Giza complex (Three pyramids and Sphinx) and other four epochal pyramids!

Giza Complex → ≈ 10,400 B.C.
1. Red Pyramid → 30 June 10,172 B.C. (1- st Thoth → first epochal heliacal rise of the star Sirius after the global deluge)
2. Bent Pyramid → 3 July 8,699 B.C. ([2 steps] 1- st Thoth → Second epochal heliacal rise of the star Sirius after the global deluge)
3. Meidum Pyramid → 6 July 7,226 B.C. ([3 steps] 1- st Thoth → Third epochal heliacal rise of the star Sirius after the global deluge)
-------
-------
6. Step Pyramid → 15 July 2,807 B.C. ([6 steps] 1- st Thoth → sixth epochal heliacal rise of the star Sirius after the global deluge)
The Giza complex had been built by survived Atlantians. Using Intellectual and technical forces of the survived colonies the complex was sacred to Atlantis people to revere souls of the people. Using the stellar coordinates of the Sun, Leo and Orion, exact date of the Deluge had been written in the complex. Of course the complex was sacred to last global deluge as well.
1. Using survived metallic instruments and geo-polymeric technologies Deadline for the Red Pyramid was interrelated to Egyptian epochal new year 1- st Thoth, → first epochal heliacal rise of the star Sirius after the global deluge.
The pyramid had been built by Intellectual and technical forces of the survived colonies. Red pyramid was sacred to Atlantis people to revere souls of the people.
2. Using survived metallic instruments and geo-polymeric technologies Deadline for the Bent Pyramid was interrelated to Egyptian epochal new year 1- st Thoth, → second epochal heliacal rise of the star Sirius after the global deluge.
The pyramid had been built by Intellectual and technical forces of the survived colonies. Bent Pyramid has two steps and was sacred to Atlantis people to revere souls of the people.
3. Using remaining metallic instruments Deadline for the Meidum Pyramid was interrelated to Egyptian epochal new year 1- st Thoth, → Third epochal heliacal rise of the star Sirius after the global deluge.
The pyramid had been built by Intellectual and technical forces of the survived colonies. Meidum pyramid has three steps and was sacred to Atlantis people to revere souls of the people. Assimilated generation of the Atlantis people because of inter race wedding: kings, territorial rulers, elites, priests, etc worldwide could not save the ancient knowledge and technologies. Using limestone of the huge pre-flood pyramid, Meidum pyramid had built on base of the pre-flood pyramid. Survived base of the pre-flood pyramid has the pre-flood geographical orientations. Meidum pyramid has the modern geographical orientations.
------- For millenniums metallic instruments
have been eaten by corrosion.
------- For millenniums the assimilated generation to primitive
aborigines could loss almost all wisdom and technologies.
------- For millenniums survived cities built by Atlantians
worldwide have been destroyed by wild tribes.
6. Using new bronze instruments Deadline for the Djoser’s step Pyramid was interrelated to Egyptian epochal new year 1- st Thoth, → Sixth epochal heliacal rise of the star Sirius after the global deluge.
The pyramid had been built by intellectual and technical forces of the Egyptian people led by elites – assimilated generation of the pre-flood race from Atlantis. The step pyramid has six steps and was sacred to Atlantis people to revere souls of the people.
The amazing and impressive things made by Atlantians have been discovered in the Djoser’s step pyramid only. The closed (secret) rooms of the Red, Bent, Meidum and the Giza pyramids are awaiting discoverers still. We have the proofs on archeological working at the dynastic epoch to find the closed secret rooms in the pyramids. Pharaohs were looking for treasures, things, weapons …etc made by Atlantis. We have to replace Djoser’s reign around 2,807 B.C.
Symbolical meaning of the four epochal pyramids (red, bent, medium and step) is a Garden of Eden → Dim stars under the Orion’s belt.
Thus falsifications of the mankind’s History are decoded!
I’m sure the Falsifiers are “glad”!
Forgotten history on pre-flood empire Atlantis! → http://www.cosmogeology.ge/chapter-(31).pdf

Homeland of the left-handed race – Atlantis had been sunken in the Atlantic Ocean in 10,465 B.C.
There are many left-handed individuals in the Indo-European race still and among the Negroids as well.
Ruler of the most powerful country is a left-handed individual – Obama.
Wandering genes of the left-handed race have many individuals of the world.
These genes are dispersed in the Indo-European race mainly.
Suddenly these genes can explode in your generation, please don’t wonder!
Please don’t wonder if you are an assimilated individual of the natural left-handed race from Atlantis.
Etymology of the word Atlantian came from Atl-atum “souls of water”
Most famous pre-flood joke was that – “Even the blood is a blue”
Name of a member of the aristocracy came from Atlantis – “Blue-blooded”
Elites of the almost all countries; kings, queens, priests, aristocracy…etc came from Atlantis.
Everything started from the pre-flood agriculture development worldwide.
Name of the Atlantic Ocean is interrelated to Atlantis
Source of all myths and legends generally is interrelated to Atlantis.
…etchttp://www.cosmogeology.ge/chapter_files...

Best wishes
K. Margiani
Founder new field of science Cosmogeology
First expert in the world, on Atlantis.

Sensational book on antediluvian civilization - Atlantis!
We’ve decoded to you and published in the book: the Atlantis alphabet, antediluvian engraved writing in the Libya and Baalbek, forgotten cartouche of Hermes Trismegistus, nuclear War, Aryan (Atlantian) dictionary etc... Each customer of the book can study, many primordial words of the Atlantis language, from the smaller dictionary. This is an amazing and most sensational book ever written. Thank you in advance, to read our investigations! ↓↓↓

[Request to Moderator: Please do not delete I will not publish others]
Excellent Trilogy for the Mankind on Forgotten and Forbidden Hystory:
1. The Forgotten Nuclear World War Near The Post-Flood Boundaryhttp://www.amazon.com/Forgotten-Nuclear-...
2. How I Discovered the Real Sunken Atlantis Isles Beyond the Gibraltar.http://www.amazon.com/Discovered-Sunken-...
3.How the Precious Metals and Stones Exterminated Aryans Near the Post-Flood Boundary.https://www.createspace.com/Preview/1123850
Best Wishes!
Kakha Margiani
-Egyptologist and Atlantologist.
-Founder of Cosmo-Geological Science.
-First Expert in the World on Atlantis.
-Expert of pre-dynastic cartouches.
-Founder of new Egyptology

""The Maya correlated the beginning date of their calendar to the birth of their deities. Yet, according to Maya researcher John Major Jenkins, the GMT correlation—the correlation of the Maya calendar with the Gregorian calendar—was based on a text found in Palenque, a text interpreted as stating that the current Great Cycle began when the deity known as “First Father” was eight years old and came to Palenque."

"If what Jenkins says is true", adds King, "then the calendar should begin when the deity was born, not eight years later. By pushing the ‘beginning of time’ back eight years to coincide with the birth of the deity, we arrive at 3122 BC, with a corresponding Maya Calendar end-date in 2004. In the words of famed fictional archaeologist Indiana Jones, they’re looking in the wrong place. In this case, not the wrong place, but the wrong time."

The change in the timing, according to King, also has implications for the occurrence of real world events as they are related to the Maya-Aztec myths about catastrophic events at the "end of days". According to these myths, King writes, at the end of the cycle there "will be a blast of energy from out of the sky. There will be earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. Ollin, the ‘movement’ glyph, tells how earthquakes will shake the whole world. The seas will rise; there will be a change in the wobble of the Earth".

We know, of course, that on December 21, 2012, none of these events happened. But, says King, on December 26, 2004, the date that corresponds to the 8-year correction, very similar events actually did occur. She sites the occurrence of astronomical alignments "with a strong correlation to the ancient Maya calculations". Moreover, she points out that on that day, the earth was affected by a powerful blast of gamma rays that, according to NASA, wiped out sensors on their gamma ray tracking satellite, Swift, and was detected by other satellites, adversely effecting communication across the Pacific for hours. Also on that same day, a major Indian Ocean earthquake resulted in the massive tsunami that killed more than 350,000 people from Indonesia to the coast of Africa and inundating coastal communities with waves up to 30 meters (98 ft) high. According to scientific reports, the energy released was the equivalent to twenty thousand nuclear bombs, a force so great that it affected the rotation of the Earth.

"Since that fateful day", she writes, "there have been noticeable changes in weather patterns—hurricanes, earthquakes, and increased volcanic activity
"

I have recently read this outstanding book (above) on crop circles and have been disabused of my biases about them. Certainly. many of them are man made hoaxes, but the situation is much more complicated than that. There are many circles that are not man made, and there is also evidence of elaborate cover up and deflection on the part of the "authorities."

You may also recall the recent discovery by Google Earth of aerial crop circle photos taken in 1945 long before the alleged prime hoaxster couple started their shenanigans.http://cropcircleresearch.homestead.com/...